Zanaco hoping to erase an emotional week

by Staff Reporter

Friday May 28, 2021. 18:30

Zanaco assistant coach Henry Banda says they are hoping to put behind them an emotional week when they visit struggling Napsa Stars this Saturday in a Lusaka derby league clash at Woodlands Stadium.

Number two side heads into the fixture battling to end a two-match losing run at home that ultimately cost the job of head coach Chris Kaunda on Wednesday despite their current top two status on the log.

Zanaco lost 2-1 to demoted Kitwe United on May 22 at Sunset Stadium and three days later were crashed 4-0 at the same venue by fourth placed Buildcon.

The defeats have left Zanaco trailing eight points behind leaders Zesco United with four and five games left respectively before the 2020/2021 FAZ Super League title race is decided.

“It has been an emotional week but we just have to continue working because this is our job, this is our lively hood and this is how we earn our leaving. We just have to prepare to aim high so that we can get a positive result against Napsa,” Banda said.

Banda, though, is wary of Napsa who are battling relegation and are third from the basement at 16th inside the bottom four drop zone.

Napsa, who lost 2-1 away to Zanaco in the first leg meeting, await their guests on the back three of straight league defeats.

“We have told the players not to underrate them because playing a team that is in the red zone is a tricky game,” Banda said.

“So we just have to be prepared to fight to the last whistle.”

A return to winning ways for the seven-time Zambian champions will put them five points behind Zesco who only play on Sunday at home in Ndola against Kitwe United.